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magistrates。 The severest thing that the priest does is the
excluding those that are desperately wicked from joining in their
worship。 There is not any sort of punishment more dreaded by them
than this； for as it loads them with infamy； so it fills them with
secret horrors； such is their reverence to their religion； nor
will their bodies be long exempted from their share of trouble；
for if they do not very quickly satisfy the priests of the truth
of their repentance； they are seized on by the Senate； and
punished for their impiety。 The education of youth belongs to the
priests； yet they do not take so much care of instructing them in
letters as in forming their minds and manners aright； they use all
possible methods to infuse very early into the tender and flexible
minds of children such opinions as are both good in themselves and
will be useful to their country。 For when deep impressions of
these things are made at that age； they follow men through the
whole course of their lives； and conduce much to preserve the
peace of the government； which suffers by nothing more than by
vices that rise out of ill…opinions。 The wives of their priests
are the most extraordinary women of the whole country； sometimes
the women themselves are made priests； though that falls out but
seldom； nor are any but ancient widows chosen into that order。
None of the magistrates has greater honor paid him than is paid
the priests； and if they should happen to commit any crime； they
would not be questioned for it。 Their punishment is left to God；
and to their own consciences； for they do not think it lawful to
lay hands on any man； how wicked soever he is； that has been in a
peculiar manner dedicated to God； nor do they find any great
inconvenience in this； both because they have so few priests； and
because these are chosen with much caution； so that it must be a
very unusual thing to find one who merely out of regard to his
virtue； and for his being esteemed a singularly good man； was
raised up to so great a dignity； degenerate into corruption and
vice。 And if such a thing should fall out； for man is a changeable
creature； yet there being few priests； and these having no
authority but what rises out of the respect that is paid them；
nothing of great consequence to the public can proceed from the
indemnity that the priests enjoy。
They have indeed very few of them； lest greater numbers sharing in
the same honor might make the dignity of that order which they
esteem so highly to sink in its reputation。 They also think it
difficult to find out many of such an exalted pitch of goodness；
as to be equal to that dignity which demands the exercise of more
than ordinary virtues。 Nor are the priests in greater veneration
among them than they are among their neighboring nations； as you
may imagine by that which I think gives occasion for it。
When the Utopians engage in battle； the priests who accompany them
to the war； apparelled in their sacred vestments； kneel down
during the action； in a place not far from the field； and lifting
up their hands to heaven； pray； first for peace； and then for
victory to their own side； and particularly that it may be gained
without the effusion of much blood on either side； and when the
victory turns to their side； they run in among their own men to
restrain their fury； and if any of their enemies see them； or call
to them； they are preserved by that means； and such as can come so
near them as to touch their garments； have not only their lives；
but their fortunes secured to them； it is upon this account that
all the nations round about consider them so much； and treat them
with such reverence； that they have been often no less able to
preserve their own people from the fury of their enemies； than to
save their enemies from their rage； for it has sometimes fallen
out； that when their armies have been in disorder； and forced to
fly； so that their enemies were running upon the slaughter and
spoil； the priests by interposing have separated them from one
another； and stopped the effusion of more blood； so that by their
mediation a peace has been concluded on very reasonable terms； nor
is there any nation about them so fierce； cruel； or barbarous as
not to look upon their persons as sacred and inviolable。
The first and the last day of the month； and of the year； is a
festival。 They measure their months by the course of the moon； and
their years by the course of the sun。 The first days are called in
their language the Cynemernes； and the last the Trapemernes； which
answers in our language to the festival that begins； or ends； the
season。
They have magnificent temples； that are not only nobly built； but
extremely spacious； which is the more necessary； as they have so
few of them； they are a little dark within； which proceeds not
from any error in the architecture； but is done with design； for
their priests think that too much light dissipates the thoughts；
and that a more moderate degree of it both recollects the mind and
raises devotion。 Though there are many different forms of religion
among them； yet all these； how various soever； agree in the main
point； which is the worshipping of the Divine Essence； and
therefore there is nothing to be seen or heard in their temples in
which the several persuasions among them may not agree； for every
sect performs those rites that are peculiar to it； in their
private houses； nor is there anything in the public worship that
contradicts the particular ways of those different sects。 There
are no images for God in their temples； so that everyone may
represent Him to his thoughts； according to the way of his
religion； nor do they call this one God by any other name than
that of Mithras； which is the common name by which they all
express the Divine Essence； whatsoever otherwise they think it to
be； nor are there any prayers among them but such as every one of
them may use without prejudice to his own opinion。
They meet in their temples on the evening of the festival that
concludes a season： and not having yet broke their fast； they
thank God for their good success during that year or month； which
is then at an end； and the next day being that which begins the
new season； they meet early in their temples； to pray for the
happy progress of all their affairs during that period upon which
they then enter。 In the festival which concludes the period；
before they go to the temple； both wives and children fall on
their knees before their husbands or parents； and confess
everything in which they have either erred or failed in their
duty； and beg pardon for it。 Thus all little discontents in
families are removed； that they may offer up their devotions with
a pure and serene mind； for they hold it a great impiety to enter
upon them with disturbed thoughts； or with a consciousness of
their bearing hatred or anger in their hearts to any person
whatsoever； and think that they should become liable to severe
punishments if they presumed to offer sacrifices without cleansing
their hearts； and reconciling all their differences。 In the
temples； the two sexes are separated； the men go to the right
hand； and the women to the left； and the males and females all
place themselves before the head and master or mistress of that
family to which they belong； so that those who have the government
of them at home may see their deportment in public； and they
intermingle them so； that the younger and the older may be set by
one another； for if the younger sort were all set together； they
would perhaps trifle away that time too much in which they ought
to beget in themselves that religious dread of the Supreme Being；
which is the greatest and almost the only incitement to virtue。
They offer up no living creature in sacrifice； nor do they think
it suitable to t
